Police: At Least Five Killed In Bank Hostage Situation

Jan 24, 2019

At least five people are dead in a hostage situation at a bank in Sebring, Florida yesterday. And in custody? Police say 21-year-old Zephen Xaverentered the SunTrust bank in the central Florida city and began shooting. Then he called police himself and reportedly admitted what he’d done.

Soon, a SWAT team entered the bank, located the victims, and later took Xaver into custody. As Sebring Police Chief Karl Hoglundtold reporters, the community has suffered a terrible loss at the hands of a "senseless criminal doing a senseless crime." The mystery that remains? Why.

Officials have not named the victims pending family notification. It’s unclear if the victims were customers, bank employees or a combination. As shocked as the community is – so is Xaver’s family. "I'm heartbroken for my son. I'm heartbroken for the victims," his father, Josh Xaver, tells CNN. “He wasn't raised to be like this. He's always been a good kid. He's had his troubles, but he has never hurt anyone ever before. This is a total shock.”